When the Three Kings arrive they present the gift of their talent

BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT ... A JAZZ NATIVITY

The traditional Christmas story told in Jazz

"LIGHT SERVES AS A SYMBOL OF TRUTH AND LOVE ... AND HOPE

HOPE THAT EVEN IN A DARK SEASON, WE MAY BEGIN TO SEE THE WORLD . . . BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT."

Prologue by first Host, Charles Kuralt

IF WE EVER NEEDED TO SEE THE WORLD START

“BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT” IT IS NOW!

AS ARTISTS, WE THREE WOMEN: COMPOSER, ANNE PHILLIPS, DIRECTOR, BETH ANN KENNEDY AND CO-PRODUCER, LEE PRIORE OF CHELSEA OPERA ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO BRING LIGHT INTO OUR WORLD.

This year we are shooting the New York show broadcast quality so we will be able to get it on a TV platform. We have raised $40,000 of the $50,000 we need, from people who have seen and loved it through the years. We have put together a first-class team to shoot the NY production on December 22. The Three Kings will be Latin clarinetist, Paquito D'Rivera, world-renowned tap dancer, Maurice Chestnut and "Quing" trumpeter, Ingrid Jensen.

This Christmas show has played annually in New York for 40 years with such great jazz stars as Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck and Tito Puente and many cities around the country have produced it with their own local stars. It is a family show. Children love it. Jazz- lovers and non-jazz lovers alike love it. They leave with joy and hope in their hearts.

The show’s closing words, sung, are “YOU ARE LIKE A LIGHT FOR THE WHOLE WORLD ... LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE”

If you live in the NY area you can come to this exciting performance. on December 22 at 8PM.at St.. Pauls and St Andrews Church, 86th and West End Ave. Or if you live near Bozeman MT, Tucson, AZ, La Grange, IL or in Greensboro, NC where they have been doing it annually for over 30 years, you can see their performances live. We will also be streaming the NY production. For info on all these see jazznativity.org.

OH WHAT REVIEWS "THE JAZZNATIVITY" HAS GOTTEN EVERYWHERE!

“A spiritual classic”. Manhasset NY

"a compelling evening in which the secular and sacred swirl and soar!”

Topeka, KS

“By the end of “The Jazz Nativity” you know you’ve been through something wonderful … a stirring celebration of Christmas!”

Dr. Billy Taylor, CBS Sunday Morning

“Of all the works that revolve around the spirituality/jazz axis BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT…A JAZZ NATIVITY’ seems closest to acquiring the stature of a popular classic.” NYC David Hadju Deems Taylor Award

“None of the classics is half so giddy, nor so utterly entertaining as “The Jazz Nativity" Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

"I was held spellbound. I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed a more entertaining communion with God, the church, and my fellow man. It is such a rich cultural experience.” NYC Audience member

Dec. 22 NYC

A note from composer, Anne Phillips:

I turned 90 this year. I was 49 when "Jazz Minister'" John Garcia Gensel

called to tell me he had suggested me as the writer of something called "The Jazz Nativity." Doing the show is just as thrilling now as the very first one at St. Peters Church. And I'm still kickin'! Standing midst the greatest jazz musicians in the world ! What could be more thrilling? Hearing my husband, tenor player Bob Kindred, start it alone in the dark with Silent Night just as i had imagined ... like a prayer.

I wrote all the charts but "The First Noel" when after the first performance we knew it had to be more upbeat. So Bob sat on the piano bench beside me and dictated an incredible arrangement for shepherd Phil Woods to play. When we called Phil to tell him that this year, instead of a King, he would be a shepherd, His reply was "What next? a camel?" Now, it is played so excitingly by alto great, Jon Gordon. Dave Brubeck, happily let me use his 5/4 "God's Love Made Visible" and came and played on it!. A few years later his son, Chris Brubeck, became a King. Getting "yes!" from Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, Ron Carter!

See jazznativity.org and take a look at the list of players who have been in it throughout the years.

I hope you will help us get "Bending Towards the Light ... A JAZZ NATIVITY" out to the world.

Thank you, Anne